Title: Plan B
Chapter 6 – Tensions Rise

A/N: First off thanks so much to everyone who wanted this story to continue! You all so rock! Joy, Natalie, and the others without fanfic accounts I can't thank you via the fanfic review process so I hope you accept it this way! I love your reviews and hope you'll continue to support & review this story as I love writing it for you all! To everyone thank you and now on with the story!

After breakfast, Casey and Severide linger in the kitchen while Aurora plays in the living room, Casey outlining a few things around the apartment that they were too tired to get to the night before. Severide had agreed to taking turns in making the meals when they were both off and Casey agreed to picking up Aurora from his sister's or Pauline's when Severide wasn't able. Each of them would take care of their own laundry responsibilities and keeping the apartment clean, especially their own living space. Casey in turn agreed to help out with setting some chores for Aurora and helping her earn a few dollars a week when she completed her tasks as instructed.

"So…I have to buy a plant," Casey ponders as he looks up at Severide who nods. "A real one?"

"Hey she's the one we're going to get to look after it."

"And if it dies and she looks at you with that sad face?"

"We'll be…sunk," Severide huffs as he looks at his daughter and then back at his friend. "But we gotta try something right? She'll know if it's fake. And no cactus. With my luck I'll poke myself on the damn thing," he concludes with a grumble as Casey offers him a snicker.

"No cactus. Got it. Anything else?"

"I guess…I guess we just learn as we go along. That's what Shay and I do and it's worked so far," Severide replies in truth as he rubs his face. "Anytime I had a question I would just defer to her and she'd come up with the answer, either right away or she'd just look it up. Now…"

"But you know you can always ask me or Christie or even Hermann…Boden…any of the guys would love to help. Shay was family."

"I know…I know," Severide nods in agreement as he looks at the time. "Pauline should be here shortly and then…what are we doing today?"

Casey gives his friend a weak smile as he reminds him of the plans they made last night. Today would be the same as the past two, busy with the move and getting settled into their new living arrangements. Tomorrow would be the biggest telling factor – they'd be back at work and Aurora would be without her mother coming to pick her up for the first time since her death.

"Grandma's here!" Severide shouts as they all hear a knock at the door.

"YAY!" Aurora shouts as she leaves her place at the table and races for the door. "Open daddy!" She insists as she tries to jump up and pull on the security chain. "Open! Open!"

Severide pulls open the door but instead of being greeted by his daughter's grandmother, another friendly face appears. However, Aurora looks up and her eyes instantly widen as she pulls back behind her father's leg.

"Really?" Severide chuckles as he pulls his daughter into his arms and holds her up. "You're scared of Chief Boden?"

"Hey baby girl," Boden greets Aurora with a warm smile as she offers a shy smile and then starts to laugh and pull away. "Yup she's a Severide all the way."

Severide gestures for Boden to enter; Pauline Shay knocking on the door a few minutes later. Severide talks to Boden, handing him the key to their former loft apartment, Boden telling them he'd meet Benny there and a few from 51 to take care of the last few bits of furnishings and then leave the final cleanup and lockdown for Severide and Casey.

"Gamma!" Aurora calls out as she leaves her father's side and rushes into the waiting arms of her grandmother.

"My little angel," Pauline exclaims as she gathers her into her arms and kissing her cheek. "Want to go to the zoo with grandpa Don?"

"YESSSSSS!"

"Ah someone's going to have a really fun day!" Severide agrees as he gives the older woman a hug and then hurries to help his daughter get ready for their outing. "I want you to listen to Grandma Pauline okay? You be a good girl for her."

"Okay daddy," Aurora hastily answers as she wraps her arms around her father's neck and squeezes.

"Love you sweet girl."

"Love you too daddy."

"We'll see you and Matt for dinner," Pauline tells the two adult males before she follows her husband and granddaughter out the door.

"Whole place to ourselves," Severide smirks as Casey nods and smiles.

"Food fight?" Casey snickers as he pulls away and heads back into the kitchen to put away a few final dishes; Severide entering a few moments later to put a few other things away. Casey picks up the damp washing sponge and tosses it at Severide's back and then turns away with a grin.

"Oh really?" Severide retorts as he tosses the soapy sponge at Casey's head. It bounces off and then onto the stove; Casey grabbing it and laughing as he puts it back into the sink. But when he sees Severide's expression droops he stops his actions and slightly cocks his head.

"What's going on?"

"Sometimes…" Severide pauses as he looks away and then back at Casey's expectant expression, "I feel guilty about having fun or….telling her to have fun or…even feeling good in a moment. Just not fair that Shay's not here to share that you know?"

"Yeah I get it. But you know she'd want you to be happy right?"

"I know I just…" Severide's voice dies out as his mind trails back in time once more.

'I can't explain it Kelly…Aurora just…I could be having like the worst possible day from hell and I just look at her and I'm happy. I never want to lose that feeling.'

'You never will.'

'And I almost feel selfish saying that I don't want her having a good time without me because I know that'd be wrong. But she can be happy around you.'

'Thanks.'

He remembers laughing and then kneeling down to play with Aurora, Shay at his side and the three of them having another endearing family moment.

"Shay would want you to be happy, Kelly. Both of you."

"I know. I just gotta keep telling myself that," he replies with a tight lipped smile as he turns and leaves the kitchen; Casey watching with a concerned expression. But the time for him to worry about his friend is quickly put on hold when there is a knock at the door. Casey hurries to open it and greets Christie and Violet with a hug.

"The professional painters are here," Violet declares as she pushes past Casey and heads toward Aurora's room; Casey watching her with an amused smile before he looks at his sister.

"This is all her idea," she confesses as she raises her hands up in surrender. "So…what else do you need to do to get this place ready for two adults and a four year old?"

"I need a plant," Casey admits with a sheepish smile. "Kelly said that he and Shay talked about getting Aurora a chore list so she could earn some allowance and watering plants is on there only…."

"You don't have one," Christie replies as Casey nods. "What else?"

"Any other suggestions would be great."

"Okay so I'll give you a few suggestions that I used for Violet."

"That'd be great."

"And remember you have to clearly outline for her what is expected and then expect her to not do well the first few times. I suggest you put a water absorbent pad under the base because I'm sure she'll get more on the floor at first than in the pot. Also remember to praise her on what she did well. Even if it was getting the watering can on her own. It's important."

"Okay. Anything else?" Casey looks up from writing down some notes, his actions making Christie laugh.

"What's going on?"

"I'm about to give you both some pointers on chores for Aurora."

"You mentioned it?" Severide asks as Casey nods and shrugs. "Okay…sure."

Casey feels some tension starting to grow and wonders if perhaps Severide is resentful that he took it upon himself to ask his sister for some parenting advice for a child that wasn't his own flesh and blood. I did it to help my friend…next time ask him first or tell him. It'll keep resentment at bay. Got it.

Christie repeats what she had told Casey and then the three of them make a list for the next year that includes in addition to watering the one plant; Aurora would pick up her toys, sort her socks into the same colors, helping them with some vacuuming of her own room, putting away her little laundry items into designated drawers, closing the toilet seat, cleaning the table, using the Swiffer, putting unbreakable things into the dishwasher and odds and ends here and there. After the list is made, it's put onto the fridge and the two of them tell Christie they'd see her later and head out to the loft apartment to join Boden, Benny, Cruz and Otis.

"Alright! Let's get this party started!" Cruz declares as Severide can only shake his head and chuckle as Casey slaps him on the back.

It only takes a few hours before the loft apartment is all cleaned up and it's just Casey and Severide left inside the empty shell that was once a very comfortable and friendly dwelling. Casey waits downstairs, watching Severide walk around for one last check and then heading upstairs to have one last moment alone. As much as he knows his friend is hurting right now, he has to allow him his final moments. The memories would be coming with him but it still wasn't the same. After fifteen minutes of silence however, Casey goes in search of his friend, finding him upstairs in Shay's old room, sitting on the floor staring absently at the wall ahead of him. His heart breaks. What could he say in that moment that would make it all better? Nothing. So instead he slides down onto the floor beside Severide and stares straight ahead also.

"I miss her," Severide declares in a soft whisper, looking at Casey with a watery, mournful gaze.

"Me too."

XXXXXXXX

However, the two adult male guardians of Aurora Severide weren't the only ones missing her mother; others were also.

Pauline Shay holds onto her granddaughters hand as they slowly walk toward the petting area at the large Lincoln Park Zoo.

"Seep! Gamma! Seep! Seep!"

"SHeep. Say it right Aurora. SHeep."

"Shhhhheeeep!" Aurora copies as Pauline smiles down at her and nods.

"Yes that's correct. Very good."

"Let's go! Let's go!" Aurora tugs on her grandmother's arm, her dirty blond hair bouncing around the shoulders of her little purple jacket. The three of them enter the large free agricultural area, passing the large dairy barn and heading for the area with the sheep and some new little lambs. Aurora's senses are on sensory overload with all the fresh air, the buzz from excited children and the anticipation of petting little farm animals. But for Pauline and Donald Shay the mood in the air is different. Strained. Almost morose.

"Leslie!"

Pauline quickly turns to see a woman with shorter blond hair rushing up to her friend a little girl tucked at her hip. Her breath sharply intakes as her mind pictures her beloved daughter, happy and alive; with her child in her grasp. "Oh Don…" she whispers as his hand rests supportively on her back. But they fear ruining the moment for the excited four year old in their charge, so both quickly swallow their sorrow and put on brave faces.

"Welcome," the young petting zoo attendant greets them. "Would you like to feed them?" He asks as he offers a small baggie with some special pellet food in it. He directs them where to go, what to do and how to behave around the animals; pointing out the hand sanitizing stations for when they were done. After they spend time with the sheep, Donald Shay taking as many pictures as possible to capture the moment; then they move on to see the little domestic pigs.

"I want one gamma!" Aurora exclaims excitedly as she tries to grab one of the squealing little piglets.

"Oh sweetheart you can't take him home, he belongs with his family," Pauline explains with a kind smile. "But you can feed him if you'd like."

"Yes! Yes!" She holds out her hand; Pauline and Donald not able to escape the fact that some of their beloved granddaughter's antics were inherent thanks to her mother. They would cherish that. Always.

"I think she's going to stay right there for the rest of the day," Pauline remarks to her husband as they watch Aurora sitting down on a small bale of hale with two little piglets in her grasp; smiling from ear to ear.

But the notion of missing her mother isn't lost on the little girl as he hears another little girl call out "Mommy! Mommy!" and turns to look in wonder. Aurora watches the other little girl rush into the arms of her mother who holds up a little pink piglet stuffie and gently frowns. Where was her mother? She looks around and then at her grandmother. "Where's my mommy?" Aurora asks sadly.

In that very moment, Pauline Shay's heart shatters and the tears she had been holding back burst forth.

XXXXXXXX

"Thanks again for helping today. I honestly didn't expect us to get that much done," Severide remarks as they near the door to Casey's apartment; their now shared apartment.

"Well if Christie turned Violet loose into the rest of the apartment, we might be moving back in there," Casey lightly quips as he pushes the door open and both men enter the apartment. The first thing they notice is a plant with a wide pot and a thick water absorbent pad right underneath it.

"Hey a real plant," Severide remarks as Christie comes up to them, giving each of them a hug and confirming that was one of two waterable plants in the apartment. "Thanks."

"When Violet was Aurora's age, Jim and I had a list of things for her to do to make some money and also learn responsibility and how to be a useful part of the family. I think it's a great idea Kelly to set some rules and chores for her. Kids need that," Christie tells him in truth. "I've typed up your list and put it on the fridge."

"Really? Thanks," Severide answers somewhat numbly. He had told himself that he must keep his resentment at bay as these were his friends; they loved him, they loved Aurora and they loved Shay and only wanted the best for the grieving father and his beloved little girl. But sometimes it was hard to picture anyone else setting rules and boundaries for his child other than himself…and her mother. Damn Shay should be here.

"So what did Violet do in here?"

"Come and see!" Violet gestures to them as she comes up to them with a white painters smock dotted with pink and purple and yellow splatter.

"You didn't go near my room did you?" Severide asks in mock dread as Violet looks at Casey in haste.

"He's joking. He knows you didn't," Casey replies as he playfully wraps his arm around his niece's neck and pulls her into his side. The three of them head toward the little girls room, not sure what to expect. Casey had told her that a coat of paint could easily be covered if he ever had to move but she assured him that it would be tasteful but fun. And she'd be right.

The two adult men enter the room and look in amazed wonder. The walls are a rose pink with one wall a complimentary almost lilac purple. Then, with Casey's permission, she painted the three chest of wooden draws darker purple with bright yellow sunflowers and little pink roses on it. She put the name Aurora on the dresser with a pink rose intertwined through the letters. The paint job nicely complimented the rest of the furnishings that Shay had picked out for her daughter.

"We left all the things that Shay bought for her," Christie comments as her hand rests on Severide's shoulder. "I hope you like it."

"Yeah its um…it's great," Severide offers with as genuine a smile he can manage; his brain ordering his eyes to hold back the tears.

"Really? Do you like it? Do you think she'll like it?" Violet asks in haste as Severide looks at her and smiles.

"I think she'll love it," he remarks as Casey gives his niece a hug. He looks at the little laundry basket inside the closet, her clothes arranged in groupings in the closet; the rest of her clothes for the dresser still waiting in a large box until the next day when the dresser would be completely dry and ready for use.

After that they reenter the main living area; both Casey and Severide remarking on the great job that Christie did; along with the help of Boden, Dawson, Mills and Hermann to unpack the larger items and set it up so that it looked as if the three of them had lived there comfortably for a very long time.

"Thanks again," Casey tells his sister as he gives her and Violet a warm hug, promising to see them again very soon. After that he goes in search of his friend and new roommate. He finds him in Aurora's room. "Do you really like it?" Casey asks softly as he leans on the doorframe.

Severide looks up from his perch on the end of Aurora's single bed and nods. "Actually I do. I just wish Shay were here to see it. Taking pictures and…its not like I can share them with her again you know?"

"I know," Casey nods as he nears the small bed. But as soon as he eases himself down onto the surface he hears it creak and looks at Severide in surprise.

"Think you just exceeded the weight limit," Severide snickers as they both quickly stand up. "If we break the bed there will be hell to pay."

"From Aurora?"

"Nope. Big bad Benny Severide," Severide retorts with a smirk. "He bought it for her."

"Ah," Casey nods in acknowledgement. "About earlier with Christie and the rules," Casey starts as they both slowly leave the little girls freshly painted room, "I wasn't trying to overstep anything I just thought I'd ask her when she was here."

"I get it. It um…it was just odd hearing that from someone other than Shay. But Christie's a parent and your sister so it makes sense you'd ask her."

"My next option was Google," Casey admits with a weak chuckle; Severide's face relaxing into a smile of his own. The two of them head back to the entranceway, grab their jackets, lock up and then head back down to Severide's waiting car; talking about the new chore list on the way to Shay's parent's place.

As they near the House, Severide's mind travels back in time to when he first was invited over to Shay's parent's place for dinner. He was so nervous at first and remembers them looking at him rather oddly. But after that their friendship grew and his parents came to accept him as one of their own. However, a bit of tension returned when Shay had told him she told them about her Plan B idea. Her father insisted that he pay for the process but she told him that if he really wanted to spend the money to put it into an education fund for Aurora. And they did.

'So you're the one agreeing to all this.' Severide's mind recalls Pauline's at first contrite words. She was skeptical at best but then he recalls her softening toward the idea after the first ultrasound picture was placed on their fridge and they saw how committed he was to being a part of their daughters life and granddaughters future.

"Kelly?" Casey's voice prods his friend, bringing him back to reality as they stop just outside their intended destination. The two of them head up the walk, talking about the day and what going back to work tomorrow might mean for all of them especially Aurora.

"Welcome!" Pauline calls out from the aromatic kitchen as they enter the cozy home; the smell of roast beef beckoning them to hurry.

"DADDY!" Aurora shouts as she races into her father's waiting embrace. "Look daddy, look what gamma gave me!" She holds up a little pink stuffed piglet from the zoo.

"Did you get that today?"

"Uh huh," she nods as she holds up the little teddy bear with a bright smile. "We got to see piglets today and seep!"

"SHeep," Severide gently corrects.

"SHHHHHHEeeeep," Aurora replies with a wide smile as Severide just shakes his head at his daughter antics.

"How was the zoo?" Casey asks as they enter the kitchen.

"It was so much fun!" Aurora answers for her grandparents.

"There is no denying that. And I'm surprised we didn't come home with a real pig or sheep or cow for that matter," Don Shay replies as Aurora slides down her father's leg and goes back to the table, climbing up onto her grandfather's lap and bouncing her little teddy bear on the table.

"So what else did you do?" Severide asks in wonder.

Both Casey and Severide listen to the stories of the day, how they got to pet the little baby lambs and piglets. Aurora got a short pony ride and then watched a cow milking demonstration.

"She had no trouble touching the cows nipples," Don quips with a chuckle.

"She gets that from Shay," Severide pipes up.

"She gets that from Kelly," Casey adds at exactly the same moment.

Both Casey and Severide state in tandem, all four adults laughing and Aurora looking up in wonder.

"Who's Say?"

The question is innocent and honest but it literally stops the conversation of all four adults, all four sets of eyes zooming in on the sweet little face looking at them in expectation. They had called Shay by her first name Leslie around Aurora as per Shay's request. Aurora's mother's name was Leslie.

"Shay is our last name sweetheart," Pauline pipes up in haste.

"Mine too?"

"No you have my last name," Severide reminds her.

"Why?" Aurora asks as Severide shakes his head.

"I'll take her to wash her hands for supper," he volunteers.

"So she was okay all day?" Casey inquires after Severide and Aurora had left the room.

"I think we all had our moments," Pauline answers with a heavy sigh. "It's only natural for her to see other children with their mother and wonder where hers is. She knew Leslie. That won't go away so fast."

"It was tough at times," Don admits frankly as Casey nods in agreement. "How's Kelly?"

"Raw," Casey tells them candidly. "I want to help but today when I asked Christie for some chore advice I felt like he didn't want me interfering despite the fact he asked for help," Casey explains with a small shrug. "I remember after Hallie died and I snapped for literally no reason at those that wanted to help so I'm trying to be sympathetic but I don't want to overstep any boundaries."

"I think we're all in the same boat," Don Shay adds as his wife nods in agreement. "We all want the best for both Kelly and Aurora but right now it's hard to know exactly what that is."

"We're both back to work tomorrow and I'm glad that Aurora has her routine with you guys and Christie already established but I know there will come times when something happens and…"

"And you just need to be calm about it as she'll read into your agitation and get agitated herself," Pauline reminds Casey as Severide and Aurora come back into the kitchen.

The five of them sit down to dinner, Aurora delighting all four adults with more fun stories about the zoo, the animals she got to pet and ride, the other little girl named Annie that she met, milking the cow and of course her delight when she was given the little pink stuffie she named Pinky.

The mood is light but Casey can see from the strained faces of Shay's parents that the day hadn't been completely free of angsty emotional moments. He was sure they'd see other young mothers with their children, loving them, doting on them, laughing with them and having fun with them and feeling that absence with their own child and their granddaughter. It was a void that time would never fill.

After supper the five of them retire into the living room, where Pauline puts Aurora on her lap and pulls out an early Dora learning to read book. Severide looks at them recalling an amusing discussion he had with Shay about Aurora's developmental program.

'I know it's not that normal for kids to read very early but I'm going to start. I'm not going to wait for the school's. I want Aurora to be the best student ever.'

Ever…her soft words dance in his head as his jaw hardens. The action isn't lost on Casey who pauses in his conversation with Donald Shay to look at Severide in concern. However, he doesn't mention it and Aurora and her grandmother carry on as if nothing was amiss. About half hour later, Aurora falls asleep in her grandmother's arms and the four adults carry on their conversation for another hour.

They both thank Pauline and Don for their hospitality, Severide lingering a bit longer allowing Casey to take a sleeping Aurora to the car and try to get her into the car seat for the ride home.

"Tomorrow will be the first real test," Severide replies with a small huff as they enter the underground parking garage.

XXXXXXXX

Aurora wakes up early the next morning and presses the button the bedside light as she had been taught and looks around. Some things seem familiar and some things don't. It looks like her room. So with that in mind, she pushes herself out of bed, takes her sleeping dolly – Aurora in her grasp and goes in search of her mother's bedroom.

"Mommy?" Aurora mutters to herself as she slowly wanders into the next room as per her routine. Only this room is different once again. "Mommy?" She asks again as she sees her father's sleepy expression slowly lift and look at her in wonder.

"Aurora? What's wrong?" Severide asks with a slight cough as she turns and heads down to the other bedroom to see if it's her mothers.

"Mommy!" Aurora laments sadly as she looks into Casey's bedroom and then turns away again.

Casey tries to push himself from his sleepy stupor and stumble toward the opening to his bedroom just as Aurora starts to cry for her mother.

"I got this," Severide slightly grumbles as he enters the hallway at the same time; Casey giving his friend a nod and pulling back into his bedroom.

"Want mommy!" Aurora starts to bellow as Severide gathers her up in his arms and takes her back into his room to try to calm her down; Casey listening discretely for a few moments before he heads into the bathroom, wondering how many mornings would be this angsty. However, he also knows he can't fault Aurora either. Each morning she was used to going into her mother's room for a read or a cuddle or just some mommy and her time. Now that was gone. Forever. It would take the little girl a while until she clearly understood that the routine she had known up until a few weeks ago had changed – forever.

"Okay?" Severide asks Aurora as he gently brushes her tears away.

"NO!" She shouts as she hops off his lap and runs out of the room.

"Ah damn," Severide curses as he figures leaving her to her space would be best. So he quickly gets ready for work and when he's dressed goes in search of his daughter. He had expected to enter her room and see his daughter playing or coloring but instead he feels his agitation surge as the box of clothes that was supposed to go into the drawers is now emptied on the floor. "What the…" he starts in a loud tone as Aurora looks up from her place on the clothes strewn floor in sorrow. "We don't have time for this! But you will clean up all this mess when we get home!"

"NO! Aurora argues back as Severide grits his teeth; Casey hovering in the hallway wondering what move he should make. He starts to walk past the room when Aurora spies him and reacts. "Uncle Matt!"

"This isn't his business!" Severide snaps as he looks at Casey in anger and then shakes his head.

'Aurora isn't listening!'

'I read in this parenting book on parenting that we need to look for the root cause of the tantrum and then calmly discuss the problem and then a solution with them.'

'And then?'

'One thing at a time. So she yelled at us and threw the toys on the floor. We need to address the yelling and then the toys. Who's first? Let's flip a coin.'

Shay's words ring in his head as he holds Casey's worried gaze for a few miserable seconds and then looks away to his daughter. "Root cause…" he huffs as he goes into her bedroom and puts her on his lap. "Root cause."

Casey heads into the kitchen while Severide deals with Aurora, having heard him once again trying to explain that she wouldn't find her mother anymore in the apartment and they'd clean up her room after work. He remembers Christie telling him that to establish and keep rules and chores from here on in, would take a lot of patience and hard work but in the end was worth it as evidenced by her own daughter's current behaviors.

"Hey Matt…look man I'm sorry about earlier," Severide sighs as he enters the kitchen about fifteen minutes later. "This…I knew it would be tough but…"

"Give it a few days and she'll get used to…to not having Shay here," Casey's voice dies out with a small groan. "I wish I had something better to say but I don't."

A knock is heard at the door and both men are thankful that Pauline is right on time. Severide kisses his daughter and promises he'll see her later, Casey also giving Aurora a warm kiss and leaving her in the care of her grandmother.

"I hope it's better after work than that," Severide sighs as they head for Firehouse 51.

"It's just going to take time to adjust," Casey reminds him as the car stops and they both get out. Casey watches Severide pull away and head for the locker room with a stony gaze.

"How is he?"

"Angry and stressed," Casey replies with a heavy sigh. "Lots of growing pains Chief," Casey tells Boden in truth. "Aurora wanted her mother this morning and then threw a tantrum when she wasn't there."

"It's to be expected."

"And Kelly knows that but…"

"But it'll take a bit of time for a new routine to become habit. For all of you. It'll happen. Just don't kill each other in the meantime," Boden remarks lightly as Casey's expression softens. "It'll get a bit easier as the weeks and months pass."

"Months?" Casey replies weakly as Boden chuckles and pats him on the back. Thankfully for them all work starts early and both men's minds are distracted with the first tense call of the morning. After that it's a car accident and then for Severide helping the paramedics get down an injured utility worker from a large tree branch. The calls weren't overly dangerous but the calls did test Severide's patience as the first fire had a mother named who looked like Shay and the utility worker whose name was Leslie. However, the real tension of the day starts up once more when Pauline arrives earlier at Firehouse 51 with a testy Aurora in tow.

"What's going on?" Severide asks as he and Casey head toward Pauline as she hurries toward them with a pained expression.

"Growing pains," Pauline replies as she puts Aurora down on the floor between them. "Don got stuck on the interstate and I have to go and pick him up and then take the car in and it would be too long to keep her away from her supper and nightly routine so I stopped here. She didn't have much of a nap today so is also overtired. Are you almost done your shift?"

"Yeah…we can…manage," Severide replies with a frown as he bends down to his crying daughter. "What's wrong?"

"Want mommy! Wanna go home!" Aurora bellows as Casey bends down to her and shows her the tool he had in his hand.

"I got this Matt! Just…go!" Severide snaps in agitation.

"No Uncle Matt, don't go!" Aurora states as she clings to Casey's neck just as he's about to stand up, forcing him to remain on his knees.

He looks up at Severide with a heavy frown as Severide's lips purse and he looks at his daughter in frustration; his fingers gently prying her away so that Casey can stand up.

"Hey look I got this okay?" Severide tells Casey as Casey's hands slightly rise and he steps back a foot; Aurora looking up at her father and grandmother and then Uncle in sad confusion.

"Want mommy," she laments as she looks down at the little tool still in her grasp; the three adults more absorbed in their own conversation than watching the little distraught four year old.

"What happened?"

"She wants her mother," Pauline explains in a kind but tight tone. "She is going to go through one of those moments and it's just a part of growing up and grieving in her own way. She will have good days when she's entertained and busy and tougher days like today when she's missing her mother and doesn't know why her mother has left her."

"Okay so what should I do?"

"Kelly…"

"Not now Matt…" Severide tosses back with a small huff as looks at Pauline with a heavy frown. "I keep telling her that…"

"Aurora's missing!" Casey exclaims as they all look down and around and then at each other in horror.

"AURORA!"

A/N: So the growing pains had to start sometime right? Poor little Aurora is starting to realize that things aren't as they were and she's now different. I wanted to have a few little parts with her on her own with others and hope you liked those bits also. And tension of course for Casey as he struggles to find a balance of support and also helping to parent and Severide trying to cope without Shay, grieving for Shay and trying to parent his daughter. But eeks! Where did Aurora go? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!